Dempsey adds S. Korea visit to China trip

Apr. 18, 2013 - 06:46PM
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WASHINGTON — Gen. Martin Dempsey, the top U.S. military officer, is adding a South Korea stop to his previously announced trip to China in order to meet face to face with his South Korean counterpart on the North Korea situation.

Dempsey and his counterpart, Gen. Jung Seung-jo, held a video-teleconference Thursday and reaffirmed their nation's security alliance.

On his South Korea visit Sunday, Dempsey also will meet with the senior American commander there, Gen. James Thurman.

Thurman and the chief of the South Korean military both canceled plans to come to Washington this week due to the heightened tensions with North Korea. Thurman was supposed to testify before Congress.

A spokesman for Dempsey, Col. David Lapan, said Dempsey added the South Korea stop in order to discuss North Korea and other topics.